MUSKEGON — An incumbent mayor was re-elected in Muskegon Heights while the longest-serving member of the Muskegon City Commission was upset in Tuesday's municipal elections.

Muskegon Heights Mayor Darrell Paige beat three challengers — including two city council members — to win his second term in office.

Meanwhile, Muskegon City Commissioner Clara Shepherd was defeated by challenger Willie German Jr. as she sought her fifth term in office.

MUSKEGON HEIGHTS

In his re-election campaign, Paige cited his team-approach leadership and advocated continuing the city's “proactive” and “aggressive” stance to address its financial concerns.

The city's voters appear to agree with that direction, based on Tuesday's election results.

Paige, 52, of 543 Overbrook, won his second four-year term as mayor.

Darrell L. Paige

Paige said he believes voters who supported him looked at the city's accomplishments over the last four years. He has pointed to the city's ability to reduce its deficit, retain grants and restructure its ordinances and departments.

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“My focus remains the same,” said Paige, who is also dean of students/attendance coordinator at Muskegon Heights Public Schools. “There was a plan in place before and that is how we accomplished what we've done so far.”

He took some credit for those accomplishments, but also pointed to the teamwork of the seven-member city council.

Muskegon Heights voters also selected three council members — an incumbent and two newcomers — to serve four-year terms. Councilwoman Kimberley Sims won re-election with 767 votes, while Patrice S. Johnson and Vernonell E. Smith claimed seats with 754 and 540 votes, respectively. The other challenger, Daniel Franklin, received 405 votes.

MUSKEGON

Starting with the new terms of office Jan. 1, the Muskegon City Commission will get a major makeover, as three of the seven commissioners will be new.

Willie German Jr.

Leading the freshman class in 2012 will be German, 49, of 1247 Sanford, who defeated longtime Commissioner Shepherd who was seeking her fifth, four-year term in the city's Ward 2. German outpolled Shepherd 260-213 in an election with extremely low turnout. All vote totals are unofficial.

Newly elected Commissioners Eric Hood and Byron Turnquist won four-year terms in Ward 1 and 4 respectively; Both were first-time candidates in uncontested races. Incumbent Commissioners Chris Carter in Ward 1 and Steve Wisneski in Ward 2 both decided not to run for re-election.

“I heard from the people that they wanted a change,” German said of crime, housing and jobs being the greatest concerns. “They felt it was time for a change, and with the voters' help, we'll make that change together.”

Larry Spataro

Shepherd, 74, of 408 Monroe was unavailable for comment election night but seemed to know she was in a tough election when contacted after Monday's city commission meeting. Before knowing the results, Shepherd said: “Whatever happens, it's the people's decision.”

Spataro said he was disappointed with the turnout, receiving fewer votes this election than in a past election when he ran unopposed.

“I took Mr. Roberson's challenge seriously … it takes guts to get out and run for public office,” Spataro said of his opponent. “I have a record and can't hide the actions I have taken. In the main, people seem to support what I've done and trust me to continue to make decisions for the city.”

NORTON SHORES

When it comes to the Ward 2 election for the Norton Shores City Council, what's clear is this: longtime incumbent Dick Dolack received 1,102 votes.

While that's likely enough votes to capture one of the ward's two council seats, it won't become official until the Muskegon County Board of Canvassers certifies how many votes the three write-in candidates received.

The write-in candidates are: Nick Dreliozis, Scott Drier, and Cindy Jurkas. Typically, the vote totals for write-in candidates are available within a week or so.

Buikema, 64, has been mayor for 18 months and has been on the city council for four years. Lowe had served on the council for at least 15 years before losing his re-election bid in 2010.

NORTH MUSKEGON

Incumbent Chuck Woods and newcomer Patricia McKibben were elected to the North Muskegon City Council.

The race attracted eight candidates. Woods was the top candidate, with 350 votes, followed by McKibben with 308.

William Boyd, who previously served two terms on the council but was not an incumbent, got 296 votes. Four newcomers got the remainder of the votes: Susan Snider, 265; John McNally, 202; James Beckman, 176; and Mary Cronenwett, 122.

WHITEHALL

The four incumbents for Whitehall City Council knew going into Tuesday's election they would win a seat, but the length of their term was in doubt.

Three councilmen — Orville Smith, James Bartholomew and Emery “Mac” Hatch — were elected by voters to four-year terms by receiving the most votes. Smith received 209 votes, while Bartholomew and Hatch, who is the city's mayor, garnered 204 votes each.